The College of Optometrists

The College is the professional and examining body for optometrists and is a public benefit body established by Royal Charter.

We welcome the Minister’s speech which pledges to give patients choice about where they have their treatment within the NHS. Clearly optometrists have a role to play in this initiative. Most referrals to hospital eye departments originate from optometrists and they could be empowered to offer patients choice at the time of referral. The Government is already committed to direct referral from optometrists to the appropriate care provider and we would encourage PCTs to pursue urgent discussions with their Local Optometric Committees as to how this can be implemented locally. Optometrists are the major providers of primary eye care yet they do not have access to NHSNet. We would encourage discussions as to how this can be achieved as soon as possible so that optometrists can have access to up to date information including details on waiting times, available appointments for various service providers, and secure routes for electronic referral.

Optometrists have the training and skills to manage eye care conditions in the community, without unnecessary prescribing or referral to the secondary sector. This is clearly evidenced by initiatives such as the Action on Cataracts schemes, and schemes for the co-management of acute eye care conditions such as the Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Scheme (PEARS) in Wales, the Glasgow Integrated Eyecare Service (GIES), and schemes in Camden & Islington, and North Staffordshire. . There are many high street optometric practices and this would be an exemplary example of abundant patient choice within the NHS, as proposed by Dr Reid’s speech, with the added benefit of easy accessibility, another factor emphasized in all DH consultation documents.

The NSF for diabetes recommends annual eye screening for people with diabetes and we would suggest that the patient choice initiative should also apply to the choice of screening provider. Optometric practices are well equipped and optometrists have the training and skills to perform diabetic eye screening. Optometric practices would be the obvious choice for siting digital cameras, complementing and enhancing any existing local arrangements. This would give diabetic patients the same wide choice and ease of access for their screening as for the other initiatives outlined above.

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the College on email optometry@college-optometrists.org, telephone 020 7839 6000.